title: Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody: use of polyethylene glycol as an aid to precipitation of antibody-receptor complexes in determination of light chain and subclass.
abstract: Polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) was used as an aid to precipitation of antibody-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) complexes. In the absence of anti-human IgG, 8% PEG can be used to precipitate antibody-AChR complexes. In the presence of low titre specific antiserum, 3% PEG selectively precipitates anti-IgG-IgG-AChR complexes and allows analysis of light chain and subclass contribution to the anti-AChR. The specificity of the various antisera is presented and results in 16 patients described.
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols